Jurors selected for Rose Chase murder trial

Monday

Oct 7, 2013 at 7:18 PMOct 8, 2013 at 8:21 AM

By Erinn Cain ecain@messengerpostmedia.com

Twelve jurors have been selected for the trial of Rose M. Chase, the Stanley woman indicted in February on charges relating to the death of her husband, Adam Chase. Three alternates still need to be chosen Tuesday in Ontario County Court, after which opening statements are expected to be given.

Rose faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder, said Ontario County District Attorney R. Michael Tantillo. She has also been charged with tampering with physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child.

The indictment alleges that Rose "intentionally caused the death of Adam Chase" on or about June 14, 2012. It further alleges that Rose transported Mr. Chase's body from their residence to 4675 Hagerty Road in Potter, Yates County, and concealed it there before ultimately burning the body at that location.

Among the questions Judge William Kocher asked potential jurors during jury selection Monday was if they had heard anything about the case, such as in the news media, and, if so, if that would affect their states of mind if they were chosen to serve as jurors. Numerous people said they had heard about the case, and a few expressed uncertainty about their ability to put what they had heard out of their minds.

In his questioning of potential jurors, Tantillo said that the "fact that you may have read about it doesn't mean anything in itself." But, he said, he sought jurors who would be able to put aside what they had read, heard or discussed.

"That's why we have this process: because both parties are looking for jurors who can start fresh here," Tantillo said.

Public Defender Leanne Lapp, who also questioned potential jurors, added, "what we're looking for is for you to look inside yourself and be honest with yourself if this is the kind of case you're able to sit on."

During a pretrial hearing in July, Kocher ruled that testimony by eight officers involved in the investigation — as well as a video of the approximately two-and-a-half-hour interview Rose had last December with Ontario County Sheriff's Office investigators — can be presented at her trial.

During a court appearance last month, Kocher told Rose that if she pleaded guilty to the charges before trial, he would sentence her to 20 years to life in prison, Tantillo said. Chase said she would not plead guilty, Tantillo said.